7 years together

I can not believe that today is our 7th Gotcha Day with Leanne, Cameron and Justin. It seems like just yesterday I got the phone call that changed my life forever. It seems like just yesterday we walked into that dirty office building and looked into the tear stained faces of the three most beautiful children I had ever seen. It seems like just yesterday we were sitting across from a judge vowing to be the best parents possible. Promising to love and care for them for the rest of their lives. It really does seem like it was "just yesterday". Where has the time gone?

My precious little boys are growing bigger everyday. They are eating me out of house and home. They are playing sports and climbing trees. They are building snow forts in the front yard. They are telling me silly jokes and laughing at mine. Cameron is looking me in the eye now when he kisses me good night or gives me a hug. Justin keeps me hopping and I never know what he is going to say next.

My precious little girl is almost a teenager. She no longer lets me put her hair in piggy tails or braid it everyday. She wants Hollist*er instead of Gymbor*ee. She wants to go to the skating rink with friends instead of holding my hand while she skates around the rink. She like her younger brother is looking me eye to eye when we are standing together.

I do not understand how it can feel like yesterday yet at the same time I can not remember my life without them? I can not imagine a life without goodnight kisses, silly laughing, practical jokes, sibling fights, mountains on laundry, hearing them call me mommy, watching the succeed and drying their tears when they don't.

I do remember a time when I cried myself to sleep longing for a baby to hold, a toddler to dress and a preschooler to sing with and read books too. I mourned the thought of not having children to take on trips to the zoo, to see children's movies, to take on vacations to Disney World... I cried thinking I would never have a baby to rock to sleep or a someone to tuck in and kiss goodnight. It was a sad time in my life. I wish I knew then that the Lord was perfectly orchestrating our lives and weaving our paths to become a family. We had to experience the pain and sadness to become the family we are today. Hanging over my couch is a collage of pictures of the kids and the words "Family: A journey to forever". It completely sums up how I feel. My journey lead me to these 4 precious children. I can not wait to spend 7 more year with them on our journey to forever, as a family.